Contents

Primary themes[edit]

Ronson visits purported psychopaths, as well as psychologists and psychiatrists who have studied them, and meets with Robert D. Hare, the eponymous author of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, a 20‑part test administered to detect psychopathy. He explores the idea that many corporate and governmental leaders are psychopaths whose actions to others can only be explained by taking that fact into account, and he privately uses the Hare test to determine if he can discern any truth to it.

The subject of how journalistic coverage of psychopathology is pursued – and whether that pursuit itself is sociopathic – is also covered.

Ultimately, he raises the question of where the line can be drawn between sanity, insanity, and eccentricity.

Reviews and controversy[edit]

The Psychopath Test received mixed reviews.[7][8][9] Its writing style was lauded, however the main criticism was a lack of depth in investigating psychopathy.

The Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy (SSSP) published a statement regarding the book stating that certain interviews in it were exaggerated or fictionalised and that they "... think that Ronson’s book trivializes a serious personality disorder and its measurement, which is not helpful to those who have the disorder or to their unfortunate victims". The statement was signed by many of the scientists featured in Ronson's book, including Robert D. Hare and Essi Viding.[10]

Robert D. Hare has also released a longer article, detailing his criticisms of Ronson's book for trivializing the work of clinical professionals and presenting psychopathy in an unrealistic and overly simplistic manner.[11]